Anvil
Long-running American blank-tee maker, the canvas behind decades of band merch and graphic tees. The 'Anvil' wordmark, with or without the early anvil graphic, dates the blank.
- Origin
- USA
- Founded
- 1976
- Category
- Athletic & Streetwear
- Documented eras
- 4
How Anvil labels evolved over time. Match the markers below against the tag in hand to place a garment in its era.
1976–1985
Anvil-Graphic Made-in-USA Tags
The early logo with an anvil graphic above bold capitalised text, black grounds with bold white lettering, 'Made in U.S.A.' and 'Pre-Shrunk' wording.
- Tags often feature the Anvil logo with a black background and bold white lettering.
- Commonly used phrases include “Made in U.S.A.” and “Pre-Shrunk.”
- Tags sometimes include size information in a simple, clear font.
How to spot it
Anvil graphic with 'Made in U.S.A.' / 'Pre-Shrunk'.
Value signal
Strong; 70s/early-80s USA-made Anvil blanks anchor band-tee dating.
1985–1989
Colourful Block-Type Tags
More colourful tags — red and blue variations — refined anvil graphic, contrasting text on blue or black grounds, 'Made in U.S.A.' kept.
- Introduction of more colorful tags, including red and blue variations.
- Some tags feature a blue or black background with contrasting text colors.
- Tags frequently state “Made in U.S.A.” with size indicators in bold.
How to spot it
Red or blue 'Anvil' tag, still USA-made.
Value signal
Strong; mid-80s Anvil is a band-tee dating anchor.
1990–1994
Streamlined Bar-Logo Tags
A cleaner modernised look, the anvil graphic dropped in favour of bold blocky text, horizontal-bar or simple-logo layouts, USA-made still emphasised.
- Tags transition to a more modern look with clean fonts and streamlined designs.
- Colors used include blue, black, and red, often with a horizontal bar or logo.
- Continued emphasis on “Made in U.S.A.” and “Pre-Shrunk” text.
How to spot it
Bold text-only 'Anvil' with a horizontal bar.
Value signal
Solid; early-90s Anvil dates many graphic tees.
2000–2019
'AnvilOrganic' Central-America Tags
Wider colour and design variety, the 'AnvilOrganic' line in green appearing, assembly in Honduras or Nicaragua noted on a mix of materials.
- Tags become more varied in color and design, reflecting a broader range of products.
- Introduction of environmentally friendly lines, such as “anvilorganic” with green text and logos.
- Tags often indicate assembly locations, such as Honduras or Nicaragua, with a mix of materials listed.
How to spot it
'AnvilOrganic' or Honduras/Nicaragua make.
Value signal
Modern; priced on the print.